Metal suit and trouser hanger



Jan, 3, 1950 M. w. BOYD METAL SUIT AND TROUSER HANGER Filed Aug. 6, 1948 Filo w L INVENTOR. MATH IAS W BOYD Patented Jan. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined suit and trouser hanger and particularly to a special type of metal collapsible or knock-down hanger for suits and trousers or suit skirts.

The main object of my invention is to provide an all metal combined suit and trouser or suit skirt hanger which serves to support a coat and two or more trousers or suit skirts, and when not required for use may be collapsed or taken apart to occupy a minimum of space in a suit-case o1 traveling bag.

Another object is to provide a hanger of this character with an upper connecting block and a lower center block connected thereto to form a nucleus for the hanger as a whole, the hanger members being supported upon the upper block in assembled position but detachable therefrom when the hanger is to be taken apart.

A further object is to have such a metal hanger which is partly constructed of wires and rods in skeleton form to lighten the structure and yet make it durable.

It is also an object to provide a hanger of this type with trouser or skirt engaging members or triggers slidably mounted on the opposite extending portions of a rod associated with the lower center block with two springs on the rod portions biasing these engaging members or triggers apart to bring them into engagement with any size of trouser or skirt to be suspended thereby.

It is another object to provide a suit or trouser hanger with an auxiliary trouser or suit skirt hanger adapted to be hooked upon the lower center block of the first-mentioned hanger in order to increase the capacity thereof for supporting further pairs of trousers and the like.

It is, of course, the practical object to produce a light metal hanger of the mentioned character which is reasonable in cost, easy to use and collapse and also reassemble, and which is both firm and satisfactory form for service when assembled.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in further detail as the specification proceeds.

In order to facilitate ready comprehension of this invention for a proper appreciation of the salient features thereof, the invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a metal suit and trouser hanger made according to the invention and embodying the same in a practical form.

Figure 2 is a partial section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is another partial section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse partial section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a further section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

In the various views the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

When good clothing is brought along when traveling, it is quite important that the same be kept in fine condition for use at various appointments and engagements, and thus it is highly desirable then immediately upon arrival at hotels and the like to promptly hang up the clothes to be available in normal shape as may be necessary. Frequently proper hangers are not at hand, especially for the trousers or suit skirts, and conventional hangers are so awkward and bulky that they cannot be brought along with the clothes in the suit cases or traveling bags used during travel.

It has therefore occurred to me that a serviceable coat hanger should be combined with a good type of trouser hanger and yet constitute a collapsible unit, which in addition should be mainly made of metal and reasonably light in construetion to make it useful and convenient to set up for use. After duly considering this problem, I

have found it quite feasible to construct such a hanger, as will now be set forth in detail.

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring again to the drawing, a hanger, generally indicated at 1, primarily includes two pairs of hanger members 8, 8, each pair being disposed substantially coextensively upon one of the two opposite sides of a central spacer bar or block 9. Each of the hanger members 8 includes also an inner lower arm [0 which bends arcuately downward at the outer end to connect in the form of a loop, with a lower outer portion of the hanger or outer arm 8, while at the upper end of the latter the extremity is bent downwardly to form a depending hooked hinged portion it upon each member 8, the arrangement bein such that each opposite pair of ends l2, l2 extends down into and is held in a double clamping plate l3, secured to the spacer bar or block 9 by means of a screw I4, while the upper ends l5, 15, forming the inner extremities of the inner or lower arms ID, ID, are preferably also clamped in this same clamping plate l3, l3 directly beneath the upper ends l2, l2 of the outer arms 8, s upon both the forward and rear portions of the spacer bar or block 9. In the upper end of the latter is screwed a suspension hook I6 by which to suspend the hanger structure as a whole. Into the lower end of the same block is screwed a depending rod l'l, while the lower end of the same rod I 1 is screwed into a block l8 through which a horizontal rod I 9 extends longitudinally, the hole 20 through the block l8 being preferably a smooth fit on the rod, while below, the block is split at 2! up to the hole 20 for a purpose which will 22 by means of a group of screws 25, 25 with a result that the loop members at the lower end of'the' inner arms I0, are clamped between the socket plate and the clamping plate, thus firmly holdin the socket 23 in horizontal position at each end of the hanger. The mentioned sockets 23, 23 serve to receive the outer ends of the rod IS in detachable manner, while upon this rod is mounted a pair of slidable trigger blocks, one on each side of the center block I8 and limited in extreme travel by the sockets 23, 23 just mentioned, while upon the rod are mounted also a pair of compression springs 21, 2'! between the center block I8 and the trigger blocks 26, 25 in order to bias the latter apart. Upon each trigger block 26 is fixed a yoke 28 attached by means of screws 2! ,v 29 to the blocks, which may also be bolts extending through the blocks if so desired, and securing the yokes 28 in such position that the free arms or limbs 30, 30 thereof extend pendantly downward beyond the block 26 in each case. Due to the slidable mounting ofthe trigger blocks on rod I 9 and the presence of springs 21, 21 therebetween, it is possible to force the blocks together sufficiently to allow one of the dependin yoke limbs 30 upon each to extend into the upper end of a pair of trousers or into the cuff portion thereof, and when the blocks 26 are released the yoke arms or limbs 30, 30 will be resiliently slid apart to engage in the interior of, the trousers mentioned to suspend the latter from the hanger.

It will frequently be desirable to suspend:

additional pairs of trousers and/or. suit skirts from the hanger and the latter is therefore equipped for supporting one or more auxiliary trouser hangers therefrom. Thus, upon the lower center block I8 are secured a pair of short angle plates 3i, 3| by means of a through bolt 32 which serves the dual purpose of securing both of the angle plates 3i, 3I upon the block I8 and also to draw the lower portion thereof together in view of the slot 2| so as to clamp the rod I9 in hole 26 and thereby fix the block firmly in position upon the rod I9. Projecting forwardly and rearwardly from the center block I8 upon the lower edges of angle platestI, 3| are the two horizontal plate portions 33, 33 having elongated slots 34 therein for receiving the wide hooked portion 35 of a sheet'metal attachment fixture 36 which has a wide intermediate portion 31 wrapped about and supportin a'rocl 33, resembling the previously described rod I 9, to the outer end or lug 39 secured against the main portion of the fixture 36 by means of a rivet 40; At each end of the fixture 36 is mounted a washer 4!, the two washers 4|, AI serving as stops for a pair of springs 42 (one shown) disposed against the washer, while beyond the outer end of each spring is slidably located a further trigger member 3 resiliently held against a stop washer or flange M a short distance within the end of rod 38 at each extremity thereof. Upon each trigger block 43 is mounted a yoke 45 secured by means of a screw or bolt 41 in suchfashion that tlie'lower limbs or arms 48 extend downwardly in pendant position, in'similar fashion to the previously described limbs 30, 30 ofyoke 28. It

is of course intended that both ends of rod 38 are to be symmetrically equipped, as already described, with respect to one end thereof so that the depending trouser engaging arms or limbs 48. of yokes 46 will be found at both ends thereof to engage the trousers in the same fashion as described in connection with the members 30, 30 of trigger blocks 26, 26.

It is evident that the trouser hanger, last described, may be hooked into the slots 34 in either one of the two angle plates 3| or two such trouser hangers may be used simultaneously to be hooked into place and used at the same time as the main trigger blocks 26, 26 are in use with their depending trouser engaging members 30, 30. Thus, it is equally obvious that the auxiliary trouser hangers may be removed by merely unhooking them from the angle plates 3i, 3I on the center-block I8. Where the hanger is to be taken apart or collapsed, the bolt I4 may be released and the depending ends I2, I2 of the upper outer arms 8, 8

may simply be lifted out of the plates I3, I3 while the inner upper ends I5, I5 of the lower or inner arms I!) may likewise be drawn down out of the same plates, when the arm assemblies 8, II and I0 may be drawn apart releasing the sockets 23, 23

from the ends of rod I9 after which block I8 may be unscrewed from rod IT, if so desired, and the assemblage will be reduced to two arm units, the upper space bar or center block unit including the block 9 with the clamping plate I3, I3, hook I6 and rod I1, and the further unit-including rod I9 with the springs, trigger blocks and center block I8, all of which may be laid in among the clothes or various articles in a traveling bag ready for reassembly at the point of destination.

It has been stated that the upper ends I5, I5 of the inner arms II], II! project up into the lower ends of the clamping plates I3, I3, but said inner ends I5, I5 may also be merely brought up against the space bar or center block 9, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 5, although the level of the section in that view is actually taken a little higher, yet the actual relations of the parts viewed from above willbe approximately as there shown. It is also possible to dispense with the inner lower arms I0, I0 with their upper'ends I5, I5 altogether and allow the loop portions I I, II to terminate immediately above the clamping plates 22, 24 at each'end' of the hanger, so that only the outer arms 8, 8 and'the lower looped portions II, II thereof are used.

As a'choice among the metals which I may use, it may be stated that the relatively thick wire of which the arms'8, I0 and II may be made, may well be aluminum or light alloy or even stainless steel which is true also of the rods I9 and 38, while the space bar, clamping plates, center block and the trigger blocks 26 and", as well as the yokes 28 and 46, may be made of aluminum or other light alloy or metal, but I desire to remain unlimited as to the actual materials-used inasmuch as the mechanical principles involved in the previously described structure refer to mechanical relations and not to materials of which this structure is composed, and'I therefore may use any material that comes to hand or which appears to be suitable in my own judgment.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I

claim:

1. A combined metal suit and trouser hanger including a central space bar having a suspension hook extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of front and rear clamping plates secured upon the front and rear portions of the space bar, a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed wire arm members arranged on each side of said clamping plates and having their upper inner ends bent to form downwardly projecting hooks extending detachably into engagement between the adjacent portions of the clamping plates, upwardly and inwardly directed further wire arms connecting integrally with the lower outer ends of the firstmentioned wire arms and forming downwardly directed loops therewith at their mutual junctions, the upper inner ends of the further wire arms being bent upwardly and extending detachably into engagement between the adjacent portions of said clamping plates, a pair of socket plates secured to the inner lower ends of the further Wire arms and carrying two individual oppositely disposed and aligned sockets, a substantially horizontal rod having the ends thereof removably extending into the two sockets, a center block mounted on the rod, a pair of elongated trigger blocks slidably mounted on said rod within the ends thereof, a yoke member straddling each trigger block and having the intermediate portion thereof secured to the block with the limbs thereof extending pendantly down to form trouser engaging members, a pair of compression springs mounted on said rod between the center block and the two trigger blocks to bias the latter apart, a vertical rod interconnecting the space bar with said center block, and means for securing the latter in place on said horizontal rod.

2. A combined metal suit and trouser hanger including a central space bar having a suspension hook extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of front and rear clamping plates secured upon the front and rear portions of the space bar, a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed wire arm members arranged on each side of said clamping plates and having their upper inner ends bent to form downwardly projecting hooks extending detachably into engagement between the adjacent portions of the clamping plates, upwardly and inwardly directed further wire arms connecting integrally with the lower outer ends of the first-mentioned wire arms and forming downwardly directed loops therewith at their mutual junctions, the upper inner ends of the further wire arms being bent upwardly and extending detachably into engagement between the adjacent portions of said clamping plates, a pair of socket plates secured to the inner lower ends of the further wire arms and carrying two individual oppositely disposed and aligned sockets, a substantially horizontal rod having the ends thereof removably extending into the two sockets, a center block mounted on the rod, a pair of elongated trigger blocks slidably mounted on said rod within the ends thereof, a yoke member straddling each trigger block and having the intermediate portion thereof secured to the block with the limbs thereof extending pendantly down to form trouser engaging members, a pair of compression springs mounted on said rod between the center block and the two trigger blocks to bias the latter apart, a vertical rod interconnecting the space bar with said center block, the latter being longitudinally split, a pair of plates upon the front and rear portions of said center block, and a pair of bolts securing the two plates upon the latter block and simultaneously clamping the block on the horizontal rod.

3. A combined metal suit and trouser hanger including a central space bar having a suspension hook extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of front and rear clamping plates secured upon the front and rear portions of the space bar, a pair of outwardly and downwardly directed wire arm members arranged on each side of said clamping plates and having their upper inner ends bent to form downwardly projecting hooks extending detachably into engagement between the adjacent portions of the clamping plates, upwardly and inwardly directed further wire arms connecting integrally with the lower outer ends of the first-mentioned wire arms and forming downwardly directed loops therewith at their mutual junctions, the upper inner ends of the further wire arms being bent upwardly and extending detachably into engagement between the adjacent portions of said clamping plates, a pair of socket plates secured to the inner lower ends of the further wire arms and carrying two individual oppositely disposed and aligned sockets, a substantially horizontal rod having the ends thereof removably extending into the two sockets, a center block mounted on the rod, a pair of elongated trigger blocks slidably mounted on said rod within the ends thereof, a yoke member straddling each trigger block and having the intermediate portion thereof secured to the block with the limbs thereof extending pendantly down to form trouser Lengaging members, a pair of compression spring-s mounted on said rod between the center block and the two trigger blocks to bias the latter apart, a vertical rod interconnecting the space bar with said center block, a pair of angle plates upon the front and rear portions of said center block, a pair of bolts securing the two angle plates upon the latter block and clamping the block on the horizontal rod, forwardly and rearwardly extending plate portions extending rigidly from said plates having elongated slots therein, and an auxiliary trouser hanger for suspending further pairs of trousers from the hanger including a second substantially horizontal rod, a second pair of elongated trigger blocks slidably mounted upon said second horizontal rod within the ends thereof, a pair of stops fixed upon the end portions of said latter rod to limit the extreme outward movement of said latter trigger blocks, a second pair of yokes straddling said blocks and having the limbs thereof projecting downwardly therefrom to form additional trouser engaging members, a plate member enveloping and secured to the intermediate portion of the said second horizontal rod and having an upwardly extending portion formed into a hook lug bent and adapted to enter into and engage one of the elongated slots in said plate portions upon aforesaid center block, and a pair of further compression springs mounted upon said second horizontal rod intermediate said plate on the rod and the two further trigger blocks to bias the latter apart.

MATHIAS W. BOYD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,105,019 Bluhm July 28, 1914 1,432,448 Edgar Oct. 17, 1922 2,420,885 Kjeldsen May 20, 1947 

